Fabric - a study in material computation and agency

TEAM MEMBERS:
CHRISTOPHER SCHULTE
KEVIN SULLIVAN
MICHAEL FLYNN
RICHARD CIAVETTA
ROBERT MERCHEL

This five-week workshop explored the ideas of material computation and agency. The first objective of the workshop was to identify and analyze the constraints and potentials of the chosen material, fabric – elasticity, hardening potential (form resistance), – and those of the agents (robots) – performance, self-awareness (sensors), scale potential, range of motion. In order to merge the information of both parties, creating a feedback loop between the robots and the material was necessary. By attaching various sensors – proximity (ping), location (xbee) – and a webcam to the SERBs, surface features could be detected and responded to, thus allowing the material to be affected on a local level in real time. Using Processing, these specific responses could be coded into the robots, i.e. a decision-making protocol was created (agency). Imparting the robots with agency thus allowed the system to adapt to the material at a local level and work towards desired spatial outcomes – enclosure, light filtration, density, etc. As such, the system exhibits a high potential for variation and adaptability.